Club members helped weed and divide plantings at Sheltering Tree. Sheltering Tree building apartment buildings for individuals with disabilities. Garden Club members assisted at a 10-unit property in Bellevue to obtain tree grants. Currently, there are 150 individuals on the waiting list. Sheltering Tree enables those with disabilities to “live independently, but not alone.” The founder, Shirley McNally, and executive director, Denise Gehringer are incredibly thankful for the all the ‘love’ Loveland Garden Club has showered on Sheltering Tree.

In September, club members assisted in planting over 250 native plants from a grant given by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.

In September, our Photography Committee coordinated an outing to Lauritzen Gardens for a butterfly hunt.

Due to the pandemic, we decided to host our club meeting virtually via Zoom. Flower guru and club member Shelia Fitzgerald was our featured speaker presenting on “Holding onto the Joy of our Gardens a Little Longer.” We wrapped up early so that members could join the virtual GCA Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference.

Loveland Garden Club was the proud proposer of Mike Forsberg for the first GCA Photography Medal ever presented. The J. Sherwood Chalmers Medal is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of photography/photography education as it relates to the purposes of The Garden Club of America. Mike is being honored for his awe-inspiring photography that depicts the beauty and fragility of the Great Plains, along with his passionate commitment to conservation education and environmental action. Babs Weinberg created the portfolio of eight letters of support from Mike’s colleagues and friends, as well as, documentation of his career which was submitted to the GCA Awards Committee. His selection was publicly announced by the GCA in January 2020. Loveland Garden Club proudly celebrates Mike and his incredible photographic works. He is an inspiration to all who see his stunning talent and depictions of love and connection to the natural world.